OC's top philanthropists honored

Nov. 21, 2013

Updated 8:56 p.m.

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Seventeen-year-old Natalie Cernius of Newport Harbor High School smiles as she receives the Outstanding Youth award during the 28th annual National Philanthropy Day Orange County Awards Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER

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Seventeen-year-old Natalie Cernius of Newport Harbor High School smiles as she holds her Outstanding Youth award after the 28th annual National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER

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Victoria Collins, Ph.D., CFP, founder of WISE, (Women Investing in Security and Education) smiles as she walks up to receive the Outstanding Philanthropist award during the 28th annual National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER

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Victoria Collins, Ph.D., CFP, founder of WISE, (Women Investing in Security and Education) left, receives the Outstanding Philanthropist award from Joann Leatherby, honorary co-chair, during the 28th annual National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER

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Mary Lynn Coffee, left, receives the Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser award from master and mistress of ceremonies Rick Reiff and Maria Hall-Brown, right, both from PBS SoCal, during the 28th annual National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER

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Karen Raab of Chemers Gallery smiles after receiving the Small Business award during the 28th annual National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER

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Eric Spitz, co-owner and president of Freedom Communications, the parent company of the Orange County Register, talks to guest gathered for the 28th annual National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine. The event was presented by the Register. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER

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Margie Wakeham, executive director of Families Forward, left, accepts the award for Outstanding Founder from Maria Hall-Brown mistress of ceremonies and PBS SoCal, during the the 28th annual National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER

Seventeen-year-old Natalie Cernius of Newport Harbor High School smiles as she receives the Outstanding Youth award during the 28th annual National Philanthropy Day Orange County Awards Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER

IRVINE – In the sea of 900 people in dark business attire at the Hyatt Regency on Thursday, Natalie Cernius, 17, stood out for more than her bright fuchsia dress.

Cernius is the recipient of the National Philanthropy Day Orange County Outstanding Youth award.

She and seven more of Orange County’s top philanthropic businesses, people and organizations were honored for their community contributions at the 28th Annual National Philanthropy Day Orange County Awards luncheon. The winners were selected by members of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and other local community leaders. The event was presented by the Orange County Register.

Knowing she was going to leave for college one day, Cernius was afraid her older brother Andrew, who has autism, might be lonely. So, in 2011 she started Friday Night Club.

It’s a social club for teens with special needs and gives them an opportunity to interact with each other and do activities. It has since grown into a group with regular events at different locations for individuals with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and other impairments.

Cernius said Friday Night Club has benefitted many people, but she thinks she’s gained the most.

Doug Freeman, founder of National Philanthropy Day, said seeing young people like Cernius giving back makes him hopeful for the future.

“These kids are sometimes 15 years old and their whole life becomes giving,” Freeman said.

Philanthropy is more than just writing checks, said Joann Leatherby.

Leatherby, a supporter of Chapman University, was honorary event chair for the luncheon and is last year’s Lifetime Achievement Award Winner. She spoke about the winners and the hands-on support they also gave.

This year’s Outstanding Large Corporation or Business recipient is Edwards Lifesciences Corp. of Irvine, a medical equipment company. During the past five years, Edwards Lifesciences has hosted youth leadership summits where Orange County high school students interested in careers in science, technology and math can receive advice and information from company employees.

Though hands-on work was touted as important, so were monetary contributions, which trickle down to different needy sources.

In 2012, Edwards Lifesciences’ charitable giving in Orange County was more than $1 million.

Those in attendance were employees and members of nonprofit groups and corporations who served as volunteers during charity events for their companies.

The awards luncheon raised $35,000 for the Orange County chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals to go towards more charitable giving.

For the first time, the Outstanding Youth recipient was awarded a prize of $2,500 from the Association of Fundraising Professionals to give to the charity of her choice.

Cernius gave the prize to United Cerebral Palsy of Orange County, an organization that supported her Friday Night Club.

“I think I’ve benefitted most of all from the people I’ve gotten to interact with,” she said.

“Now after I graduate college I know one day I want to become involved in a nonprofit somehow. I don’t know how yet, but I know I want to,” she said.

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